Table-top construction



, L. G. COPEMAN TABLE TOP CONSTRUCTION Filed March 18, 1925 s Sheets-sheaf; 1

A TTORNE Y.

Jan. '29, 1929. V 1,700,155

L. G. COPEMAN TABLE TQP ,CONSTRUCTION Filed March 18, 1925 :sv Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JLw o [aft/1AM Patented Jan. 29, 1929.

UNITED STATE$ Parent OFFlCE.

LLOYD G. COPEMAN, OF FLINT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T GOPEMAN LABORATORIES COMPANY, OF FLINT, MICHIGAN, A. CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

TABLE-TOP consrnnc'rron.

Application filed March 18, 1925.

This invention relates to table construction and more particularly pertains to the table top construction and has for itspb ectthe provision of a composite top in which the major portion is composed of a. silencing pad.

The all-metal tables which are now most generally used have several disadvantages in that the enamel which is coated over the metal chips in time and the table surface is readily ruined. and can be repaired only by completely enameling the top surface of the table. In addition, these metal table tops are noisy and extreme care must be taken in setting dishes or other fra ile articles on the table because if they are dropped. down or carelessly placed, they are liable to be broken. I

The object of this invention is to provide a table which enables one to set dishes thereon without exercising this extreme care. Another purpose is the provision of a removable pad for the table top so that when the same is injured or damaged in any way the same may be replaced by a new pad at a very little cost, and the table is as good as new. Such a construction is light and yet, due to the reinforcing, it is extremely strong, and will not sag or warp.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a table top construction in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional View through the,

moulda showing how the cast stone moulding is cast on the large reinforcing slab.

Fig. l is a sectional detail showing the same removed from the mould.

Fig. 5 is a similar section showing the silencing pad fitted therein.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of construction in which the silencing pad is composed of a plurality of sections fitted together.

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 77 of Fig. 6.

Fig 8 is a modified form of construction, showing the cast stone covering the entire surface of the reinforcing slab but recessed to receive the silencing pad.

Fig. 9 is a sectional detail showing how this table top may be assembled to a cast stone depending framework.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail section of another modified form of construction, showing a metal pan secured in place in which the silencing pad is fitted.

Serial No. 16,303.

Fig. 11 is a detail in perspective of the metal pan.

Fig. 12 is a sectional detail showing a further modified construction in which the metal pan is provided with a flange through which ascrew may be passed for fastening the pan to the slab.

The table top comprises a fibrous slab a, preferably of wood. This slab a is floated within a mould w, and. is so located therein that the same is spaced from the side walls of the mould. A core 6, which may be removable as here shown, or may be made integral with the mould, abuts against the face of the wood slab and a stone cement is poured in the mould and fills up the space between the slab and the outer mould, thus providing a. moulding c, which is cast-united to the wood slab. A thin sheet metal plate (Z may be secured to the slab so as to cover the exposed face of the slab which will prevent any moisture which may have leaked past the silencing pad 6 from coming into contact with the wood slab a. Fastening devices, such as the nails 6, shown in the drawings, may be utilized for keying the stone to the wood slab, although it will be obvious that there are other forms of fastening devices which may be used. After the slab with the moulding secured thereto is removed from the mould, the large silencing pad, preferably formed of linoleum, may be fitted in the recess This silencing pad of linoleum is preferably the standard heavy linoleum that may be pin-chased anywhere and is cut so as to exactly fit into the recess 7.

However, I may use a plastic material which I can fill into the recess f and which will harden and solidify when allowed to set for a definite length of time. This ma terial when solidified is practically thesame as the sheet linoleum and possesses thesame characteristics and gives equally as good results. This material is composed of a mixture of magnesium oxide (dry powder), 15% of wood flour, 10% of ground asbestos fibre, 10% of kieselguhr and 410% of silica, all percentages computed by weight. To this mixture of dry ingredients is added sufficient magnesium chloride in solution at 26 degrees B. gravity to reduce the mix to a wet paste suitable for trowelling.

Of course, it is understood that these pro portions may be varied and some of the elements of the mixture may be eliminated entirely or substituted by others and still obtain a pad which serves the purpose.

This table top possesses a large amount oi? beauty in addition to its great utility, as the cast stone moulding around the edge of the table is an integral or continuous strip and there are no joints which may come apart. They may be cast very smooth with rounded corners and no sharp edges are exposed which may tear the clothes of those coming in contact with it. I he maj or portion of the table top inside of the moulding is provided with the silencing pad which is remov ble and may be replaced when the same becomes worn or dz'tmaged. Preferably this linoleum is secured to the slab by means of some adhesive material such glue or cement, but this adhesive material merely serves to hold the pad from being easily displaced and docs not prevent one from removing the same by applying a. little force to break the union between the pad and the slab.

In addition to the form shown in Figs. 1 to 5, I may use a pad formed of a plurality of sections g, which may be titted into the rccesses f in the table top. These pads are made of linoleum or other light material, and are cut Very accurately so that they lit very well into the recess and the manufacturer is able to plan any kind of design by usin ditferent colored squares of the linoleum. The sheet metal plate (Z here comes into real use as the many joints between the linoleum tile may allow considerable moisture to leak past, but because of the sheet metal cover this moisture cannot reach the wood reinforcing slab ct.

In Fig. 8 I show the same slab a, the same moulding a but instead of the sheet metal cover, I show the cast stone as covering the exposed face of the slab, that is,the stone entirely covers the slab and the tour sides or edges, but is recessed as at h to receive one or more sections ot linoleum which form the sections of the pad. In Fig. 9 the top construction as shown in Fig. is here secured to a cast stone lower and depending itran'ie work structure i, which is described and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 715,016.

In Figs. 10 and 11, I show a. still further modified construction in which the metal pan is is provided with the side walls at and the turned-back flange 12 in which is provided the perforations 0. This pan may be suitably located in the moulds so that when the stone moulding 0 is cast onto the slab the stone is cast around the turned-back flange 92. and is keyed thereto because of the fact that the stone flows through the perforations 0 in the turned-back flange. This securely anchors the pan to the stone and provides a water proof pan in which the silencing pad may be set which prevents any moisture from reaching the wood slab.

One of the purposes oi such a pan construction is thatwhen the silencing pad is removed, especially when using a, slab formed oi? one picc it is necessary to insert a tool about the peripheries of the pad so that the same can be pried up. In inserting this tool between the pad and stone moulding, it is possible that the stone may be chipped specially if the pad does not come out very easily. However, with this metal pan construction, the tool bears against the side walls of the pan and the stone moulding protected and is not liable to chip when the tool is wedged between the pan and moulding.

In Fig. 12 is another modified form of this metal path in which the pan is provided with the laterally extending flange p provided with perforations 7-, through which the screws 8 may be passed and screwing the pan down to the wood slab, which naturally tightly secures this pan to the slab, and when the stone is cast about the slab, it is united to the pan and to the slab and the turned-over flange it serves as a. metal reintorcement for this moulding which prevents the same from becoming easily broken.

Nh'at- I claim is: i

A table top, comprising a wooden slab pro vidcd with a sheet metal orotective cover on one face, a moinding' of cast stone secured to said slab about the periphery thereof, and a silencing pad laid over the slab inside oi? said moulding, said sheet metal cover located between the slab and silencing pad and serving to preventany moisture that might seep past the silencing pad from coming into contact with the wooden slab.

In testimony whereof I have aiiixed my signature.

LLOYD G. COPEMAN. 

